Death Cafe write-ups
I've just enjoyed another fascinating and absorbing Sunday afternoon, sharing thoughts and experiences around the topic of death and dying. I'm always impressed at the very respectful listening that goes on between strangers drawn to look more closely at a difficult subject. So many topics this time: living wills, the Right to Die debate, dignity and choice, talking with the family, living with the diagnosis of cancer in your early 20s, a widow's experience of losing her husband over 30 years ago. One group member read a very moving account, written by someone choosing to end their life in the early stages of dementia. So ...
Marin Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Nancy Rhine on Sept. 11, 2014, 2:38 p.m.
Marin Death Café
Sept 10 2014
Mt Tam United Methodist Church
6:30 – 8PM
Facilitators: Nancy, Teresa, Kim, Norma Jean
Attendees: 43 people, not including facilitators
9 men, 34 women
Age range: approximately 30 years old to 92 years old
Things that worked this time:
· Having no RSVP requirement was so much easier! So having a large enough space to accommodate varying numbers is good.
· People brought plenty of cake. J
· Having more facilitators made for a more positive experience for participants
· Marin IJ “In Your Town” blurb and then being on the front page of the 2nd Section the day of brought more last minute interest ...
Death Cafe in Berryville, Virginia Write up
Posted by Mary Jane Lee on Sept. 10, 2014, 5:59 a.m.
Death Cafe
Berryville, Virginia
September 7, 2014
It was a beautiful fall day in Berryville, Virginia where nearly twenty people came together for the first Death Cafe. The discussion moved from the practical issues in dealing with death like advanced medical directives and the dnr order to amazing stories of experiences in families related to death and dying.
The intention and conscious choice to cease all nourishment to facilitate death, or the amazing resolve to walk into the woods to die show the deep and abiding awareness there is to dying and courageous action to facilitate and be with death on one’s own terms. There was realization ...
Last friday sept 5th and saturday sept 6th we held the First Death cafe in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 30 people attended. Intimate, fluent conversation in a home setting. Several topics were covered spontaneously: euthanasia, suicide, preparing for death, even capital punishment! It was a pleasure and an honor to be able to hold the event. Everybody ackowledged in the final evaluation: what a blessing to have a place to talk about these issues freely, openly and with no judgement.
It was a great start!!
Death Cafe Hong Kong Write up
Posted by Carmen Yau on Aug. 28, 2014, 12:23 a.m. 2 comments
It's our third cafe in HK but the first time we hosted it without attaching to other events! Though not many coming this time, we still treasure so much the time we've spent together exploring the death and life stories and issues in such a friendly and supportive space. That's what Death Cafe meant to be! We need your support in making this movement going ~ let's learn about life fully through facing death truely!
Death Cafe Northumberland Write up
Posted by Northumberland on Aug. 27, 2014, 11:56 a.m.
As the host group " Last Breath " we were able to have a great turnout for our summer gathering by the lake. Twenty seven people attended and the discussions keep deepening. Repeat participants spreads the word of this great event very effectively. Our sixth event will be in October in Cobourg, Ontario.
Death Cafe - family & friends event Write up
Posted by Death Cafe - Fremantle on Aug. 26, 2014, 7:50 p.m.
I love facilitating conversations about death and dying...it's my passion. So, how lucky was I to be able to share my passion with friends and family!
In many ways the conversation flowed as it always does, and the sharing seemed as intimate as it always is when I facilitate Death Cafe's for the public. These conversations appear to transcend family and friends, to a human level. It doesn't matter if you're my immediate family, a dear friend or a complete stranger, the intimacy and sense of community goes deeper than even these connections.
I am fascinated by the interaction. And I am fascinated ...
Montpelier Death Cafe Write up
Posted by MontpelierDeathCafe on Aug. 26, 2014, 1:42 p.m.
Making the decision to attend a Death Café is one that should be applauded. While some attendees are eager for a space to openly talk about death, it still takes a certain courage for anyone to confront what many think of as life’s ultimate mystery.
As we talked this month it became clear that for many, death, perhaps because it is inevitable, is not really what scares us. Dying does and not knowing what comes next is what is truly unsettling. We have a choice about whether or not to be afraid of death, or we can at least do our best to condition ourselves to the ...
21st March, 2019:
Weekly meetings are now occuring around Malvern. In Bromyard, Ledbury, soon Worcester. The evening meetings are proving very popular. A comfy lounge, friends and strangers, talking, listening. Connecting. In what usually stops a conversation dead we find so many ...
2nd PSG Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sherry Gilles on Aug. 23, 2014, 1:32 p.m.
Sherry Gilles and Raymond T. Anderson offered Death Cafe to participants at Pagan Spirit Gathering for the second year in a row. Sherry is a Certified Death Midwife and Raymond T. Anderson is a musician and historian.
Topics touched on were end of life care including the work of ministers and death doulas, hospice and personal experiences of the eleven attendees.
This Death Cafe was welomed and well-attended. Because this event took place at a time when two other workshops were scheduled many people also contacted me before and after wishing there were more time slots available and initiated their own conversations with Sherry about death and dying ...
Denver Death Cafe-July Write up
Posted by Anita Larson on Aug. 21, 2014, 2:25 p.m. 2 comments
Denver Death Café Summary
July 20, 2014
Many thanks to Mike and Lee Heflebower with Heflebower Funeral Services (family owned) for hosting the July Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments.
A film crew from Ivanhoe Productions taped & filmed the entire discussion. They also interviewed selected people before and after the meeting. They were very professional and their presence did not inhibit the open, respectful dialogue. They are independent TV producers who sell their stories to different TV stations and news media, so I will post a link when it airs.
We tried a different format this time. Each attendee wrote a question on a piece of paper and ...
The Aug. 17th Death Cafe was well attended and delicous desserts and beverages were enjoyed by all. Evaluation comments included:
"The discussion and different perspectives reminding us all to be alive and enjoy life!"
"Informative, friendly and safe! Thank you for making these timely events."
"Everyone was engaged in the topics and the atmosphere was accepting, enlightening and lively."
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on Aug. 20, 2014, 3:14 p.m.
2nd meeting of Highcliffe Death Cafe with 2 new members, one who travelled from the other side of Dorset, 2 spirits were with us too. We missed several of you, but will hopefully see you at future meetings.
Many topics were discussed; we very much talked about the great connection we all feel in the 4th dimension and exciting changes taken place. Again today we were able to sit outside in the brilliant English summer. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Death Cafe of Metro Denver Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Metro Denver on Aug. 19, 2014, 9:12 a.m. 1 comment
Death Cafe - Sydney Write up
Posted by April Lewis on Aug. 19, 2014, 1:25 a.m.
This was my first visit to a Death Café meeting and,having been recommended by a friend, I had a vague sense of what it would be like—a small social group of people, drinking coffee and talking about death.
Death is a big subject, possibly the BIG subject, and with so many aspects to it—dying, spirituality, home deaths, loss of loved ones and pets, recent celebrity deaths and funerals being just the tip of the iceberg (maybe the sinking of the Titanic would come up)—it seemed we would have no trouble finding something to talk about.
Among the 10 or so people of varying ages ...